A Review on Vicarious Traumatization of Oncology Professionals

Abstract

Oncology health care professionals (physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists etc.) play different but important roles in helping cancer patients and their families bear the life-threatening burdens of cancer. There is a high level of emotional intensity in the nature of working with cancer patient. This may put oncology professionals at risk for experiencing vicarious traumatization. Many research results indicate that most oncology professionals have traumatic responses related to their work. However, the vicarious traumatization is difficult to detect through quantitative measures. Besides, the positive aspects of oncology field overshadow this particular experience. Positive aspects of oncology field include personal rewards, sharing the emotional burden with team members, life lessons learned and value workers assigned to their work. This article examines the reasons of vicarious traumatization, its possible impacts on professionals and ways to be protected from trauma.

Keywords

• Vicarious traumatization,psycho-oncology,psychosocial-oncology,oncology professionals,oncology social work,medical social services

ONKOLOJİ ÇALIŞANLARINDA DOLAYLI TRAVMATİZASYON ÜZERİNE BİR GÖZDEN GEÇİRME

Abstract

Onkolojik bakım alanında çalışan sağlık bakım profesyonelleri (hekimler, hemşireler, sosyal çalışmacılar, psikologlar vd.), kanser hastalarına ve ailelerine, kanserin yaşamsal tehdit yaratan yüklerini taşımalarında -farklı mesleki roller taşıyor olsalar da- destek olurlar. Kanser hastasıyla çalışmanın doğasında yüksek bir duygusal yoğunluk vardır. Bu yoğunluğu üzerinde taşıyan onkoloji profesyonelleri ise dolaylı travmatizasyon tehdidi altına girer. Birçok araştırma onkoloji profesyonellerinin işleriyle ilgili travmatik tepkiler verdiğini ortaya çıkartmıştır. Ne var ki, dolaylı travmatizasyonu niceliksel ölçme araçlarıyla saptamak güçtür. Ayrıca onkoloji alanının olumlu yönleri bu yaşantıyı gölgede bırakabilmektedir. Kişisel kazanımlar, ekip üyeleriyle duygusal yükü paylaşma, yaşamsal dersler öğrenme ve çalışanların işlerine yüksek değerler atfetmesi onkoloji alanının olumlu yönlerindendir. Bu makalede dolaylı travmatizasyonun nedenleri, çalışanlar üzerindeki potansiyel etkileri ve travmadan korunma yolları incelenmektedir.

Keywords

• Dolaylı travmatizasyon,psiko-onkoloji,psikososyal-onkoloji,onkoloji çalışanları,onkolojide sosyal çalışma,tıbbi sosyal hizmetler

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